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LUSAKA. – Immigration authorities in Zambia have confirmed that bodies of 19 Ethiopians who suffocated to death in a containerized truck in a suspected human trafficking case have been repatriated to their country, a statement seen on Tuesday said.
They were among 95 immigrants who were initially thought to be Somalis and were crammed into a Zambian registered containerized truck together with fish and groundnuts.
The truck was intercepted by Democratic Republic of Congo authorities on the Pedicle Road, which is shared by the two countries en route to Zambia’s Copperbelt Province.
Immigration Department spokesperson Namati Nshinka said the bodies were repatriated on Saturday in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
He said the surviving 76 Ethiopians were still being held in a safe shelter in Lusaka, the country’s capital and that arrangements were being made to repatriate them to their country.
The official further said the department has also removed 39 other Ethiopians and repatriated them after they were pardoned by President Edgar Lungu on May 25, 2016. – Xinhua
Online Reporter